New Wireless Operator for Upper Midwest USA

The US operator, Long Lines says that it will launch a GSM network, covering NE Nebraska, SE South Dakota and western Iowa later this summer. As a local carrier, Long Lines Wireless says that it will be able to provide coverage in hard-to-serve areas currently missed by the national carriers.

"Long Lines employees have worked tirelessly to bring this new service to market. We are infinitely proud of what we have accomplished in a few short months," said Chuck Robbins, President of Long Lines Wireless. "The whole Long Lines team is excited about offering the best cellular service available coupled with Long Lines homegrown customer service."

Late last year, Long Lines Announced the acquisition of Great Lakes of Iowa, (GLI) and Siouxland PCS (Siouxland), two wireless service providers serving Northwestern Iowa. Long Lines also acquired a 155-mile fiber network from Hinton, Iowa to the Okoboji region that will permit better and faster communications services for Long Lines customers in that area.

Last weeks announcement caps more than a year's efforts to erect and equip a wireless network connected to the Long Lines switch in Sergeant Bluff. By the customer launch this summer, Long Lines will have approximately 70 towers in service with an additional 51 towers up by year-end. A new telephone switch has been installed to handle the increased traffic and billing, data and numerous other communications systems have been put in place."

Posted to the site on 26th June 2006